In 1964, Legendary Sci-Fi Author Isaac Asimov Played Fortune Teller

During the 1964 World’s Fair, noted sci-fi author Isaac Asimov wrote his predictions for what 2014 would look like.

The result is a hit-or-miss forecast that includes “hits,” like GPS, microwave dinners and even robot companions. And misses, like a massive underground city where humans would live. Hurts to miss that one.

Here are a few of Asimov’s standout predictions:

In 2014, there is every likelihood that the world population will be 6,500,000,000 and the population of the United States will be 350,000,000. Boston-to-Washington, the most crowded area of its size on the earth, will have become a single city with a population of over 40,000,000.

Jets of compressed air will also lift land vehicles off the highways, which, among other things, will minimize paving problems. Smooth earth or level lawns will do as well as pavements. Bridges will also be of less importance, since cars will be capable of crossing water on their jets, though local ordinances will discourage the practice.

By 2014, electroluminescent panels will be in common use. Ceilings and walls will glow softly, and in a variety of colors that will change at the touch of a push button.

Kitchen units will be devised that will prepare “automeals,” heating water and converting it to coffee; toasting bread; frying, poaching or scrambling eggs, grilling bacon, and so on. Breakfasts will be “ordered” the night before to be ready by a specified hour the next morning. Complete lunches and dinners, with the food semiprepared, will be stored in the freezer until ready for processing. I suspect, though, that even in 2014 it will still be advisable to have a small corner in the kitchen unit where the more individual meals can be prepared by hand, especially when company is coming.

The appliances of 2014 will have no electric cords, of course, for they will be powered by long- lived batteries running on radioisotopes.

For short-range travel, moving sidewalks (with benches on either side, standing room in the center) will be making their appearance in downtown sections. They will be raised above the traffic. Traffic will continue (on several levels in some places) only because all parking will be off-street and because at least 80 per cent of truck deliveries will be to certain fixed centers at the city’s rim. Compressed air tubes will carry goods and materials over local stretches, and the switching devices that will place specific shipments in specific destinations will be one of the city’s marvels.

As for television, wall screens will have replaced the ordinary set; but transparent cubes will be making their appearance in which three-dimensional viewing will be possible. In fact, one popular exhibit at the 2014 World’s Fair will be such a 3-D TV, built life-size.

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I think he sorta got the 3d tv part right, but he was off a few years. I kinda wish 2014 will be like this, and I wish there was such a thing as moving sidewalks and glowing ceiling panels, but I doubt most of it will happen in this decade.

Actually, he’s right and wrong about all of this. Everything here is in use somewhere, we definitely have the capability. Where he is wrong, is about it being an every day thing. Except for the coffee maker.

This guy is just insane! Nobody can accurately predict the future! Saying this is like saying: “Unicorns will be genetically modified from goats in 2033.”. Its not true. Any of the things he got right are completely by chance!

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